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6.1 avg / 10

Best Schools in Oakland, California

208 schools · 116 Elementary · 22 Middle · 63 High · 7 Other

Public: 149
Private: 59
Districts: 69
Avg Rating: 6.1/10
Estimated Scores: 12%

Family Snapshot

At a glance
Avg school rating
6.1/10

35% of schools rated 7+

Median household income
$108,414

Census ACS, ZIPs in this city

Median home value
$976,157

Owner-occupied units

Bachelor's degree or higher
48%

Adults 25+

Avg commute
31 min

Workers age 16+

Owner-occupied homes
42%

Of occupied housing units

How Oakland compares

California rank

#358 of 596

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.2

below California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$108k

109% of California median

Schools in this city

165

About Schools in Oakland, California

Oakland's public school landscape is one of California's most varied — 147 ranked public schools spanning a wide performance range, with an average score of 6.0 out of 10. That average masks real extremes. Thirty-two percent of schools, 47 in total, score 7 or higher, meaning parents who research carefully have a strong pool to draw from. The challenge is that performance is uneven across neighborhoods, so location alone is not a reliable guide to school quality.

At the top of the rankings, Downtown Charter Academy leads all Oakland public schools with a 9.3 out of 10, the highest score in the city. It serves middle school students and stands out sharply from the citywide average. Two elementary schools, Sequoia Elementary and Melrose Leadership Academy, both score 9.1, making them among the strongest options for younger students. Edna Brewer Middle and Redwood Heights Elementary each score 8.9, rounding out a top tier that shows strong performance at both the elementary and middle school levels. Parents with children across multiple grade levels have credible high-performing options to consider.

Oakland Unified School District operates most of the city's public schools, but Oakland also has a significant charter sector that gives parents additional choices outside traditional district boundaries. Downtown Charter Academy itself is a charter, and its top ranking signals that some of the city's strongest performers sit outside the conventional neighborhood school system. Parents who assume their assigned school is the only option may be leaving better-performing alternatives on the table.

Practically, parents researching Oakland schools should start with the data rather than proximity. With 32% of schools clearing the 7-out-of-10 threshold, there is real quality here — but it requires active searching. Middle school options deserve particular attention: two of the city's five top-ranked schools serve that grade band, and the jump from elementary to middle school is a moment where school quality can shift significantly. Use school scores as a first filter, then dig into enrollment deadlines for charters and magnet programs, which often run earlier than district open enrollment windows.

Elementary Schools

116 schools
# School Rating
1 447 students · Kindergarten–5th 9.1
2 678 students · Kindergarten–8th 9.1
3 383 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.9
4 228 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.7
5 232 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.7
6 687 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.6
7 348 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.5
8 332 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.3
9 487 students · Kindergarten–8th 8.2
10 379 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.1
11 171 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.1
12 454 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.1
13 464 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.0
14 249 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.0
15 313 students · Kindergarten–5th 8.0
16 208 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.9
17 491 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.8
18 203 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.6
19 158 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.6
20 374 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.4
21 130 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.4
22 129 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten 7.4
23 542 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.3
24 182 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.3
25 865 students · Kindergarten–8th 7.2
Show 91 more elementary schools
26 410 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.2
27 440 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.2
28 111 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.1
29 562 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.1
30 299 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.1
31 628 students · Kindergarten–8th 7.0
32 412 students · Kindergarten–5th 7.0
33 481 students · Kindergarten–8th 6.9
34 383 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.9
35 384 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.6
36 579 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.3
37 297 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.3
38 392 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.3
39 427 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.3
40 338 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.2
41 341 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.1
42 306 students · Kindergarten–5th 6.0
43 479 students · Kindergarten–8th 5.9
44 413 students · Kindergarten–5th 5.8
45 268 students · Kindergarten–5th 5.7
46 265 students · Kindergarten–5th 5.7
47 354 students · Kindergarten–5th 5.5
48 114 students · Kindergarten–5th 5.4
49 176 students · Kindergarten–5th 5.4
50 616 students · Kindergarten–8th 5.4
51 453 students · Kindergarten–5th 5.3
52 186 students · Kindergarten–8th 5.1
53 376 students · Kindergarten–8th 5.1
54 398 students · Kindergarten–5th 5.0
55 662 students · Kindergarten–5th 5.0
56 322 students · Kindergarten–6th 4.9
57 483 students · Kindergarten–5th 4.9
58 423 students · Kindergarten–5th 4.7
59 331 students · Kindergarten–8th 4.4
60 332 students · Kindergarten–6th 4.4
61 349 students · Kindergarten–8th 4.3
62 214 students · Kindergarten–8th 4.2
63 554 students · Kindergarten–8th 4.2
64 451 students · Kindergarten–5th 4.2
65 337 students · Kindergarten–5th 4.2
66 448 students · Kindergarten–5th 4.1
67 321 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.9
68 345 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.9
69 254 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.9
70 430 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.8
71 258 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.7
72 345 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.6
73 393 students · Kindergarten–6th 3.5
74 290 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.5
75 567 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.4
76 497 students · Kindergarten–8th 3.4
77 427 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.4
78 245 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.1
79 322 students · Kindergarten–5th 3.1
80 386 students · Kindergarten–5th 2.8
81 311 students · Kindergarten–6th 2.6
82 402 students · Kindergarten–5th 2.4
83 452 students · Kindergarten–5th 2.2
84 564 students · Kindergarten–8th 2.0
85 314 students · Kindergarten–5th 1.8
86 1 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten
Private Schools 30 schools

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1 69 students · Pre-K–8th Not Rated
2 297 students · Pre-K–8th Not Rated
3 365 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
4 208 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
5 153 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
6 421 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
7 90 students · Kindergarten–6th Not Rated
8 177 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
9
ILE OMODE Private
88 students · Pre-K–8th
Not Rated
10 105 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
11 16 students · Kindergarten–5th Not Rated
12 70 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
13 15 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten Not Rated
14 50 students · Kindergarten–5th Not Rated
15 348 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
16 342 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
17 198 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
18 192 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
19 200 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
20 27 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten Not Rated
21 141 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
22 153 students · Kindergarten–8th Not Rated
23 24 students · Kindergarten–1st Not Rated
24 19 students · Kindergarten–5th Not Rated
25 4 students · Pre-K–TK Not Rated
26 6 students · Pre-K–TK Not Rated
27 12 students · Pre-K–8th Not Rated
28 20 students · Kindergarten–TK Not Rated
29 16 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten Not Rated
30 12 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten Not Rated

Middle Schools

22 schools
# School Rating
1 259 students · 6th–8th 9.3
2 791 students · 6th–8th 8.9
3 659 students · 6th–8th 8.5
4 488 students · 6th–8th 8.3
5 125 students · 6th–8th 7.3
6 122 students · 6th–8th 7.2
7 160 students · 6th–8th 6.9
8 417 students · 6th–9th 6.8
9 300 students · 6th–8th 6.8
10 752 students · 6th–8th 6.8
11 356 students · 6th–8th 6.6
12 212 students · 6th–8th 6.4
13 519 students · 6th–8th 6.3
14 551 students · 6th–8th 6.1
15 355 students · 6th–8th 5.3
16 371 students · 6th–8th 5.2
17 572 students · 6th–8th 4.0
Private Schools 5 schools

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1 129 students · 6th–8th Not Rated
2 76 students · 3rd–8th Not Rated
3 113 students · 6th–8th Not Rated
4 20 students · 3rd–8th Not Rated
5 21 students · 1st–5th Not Rated

High Schools

63 schools
# School Rating
1 1,813 students · 9th–12th 8.7
2 1,432 students · 9th–12th 8.7
3 304 students · 9th–12th 8.3
4 441 students · 6th–12th 8.2
5 350 students · 9th–12th 7.9
6 57 students · 9th–12th 7.1
7 133 students · 12th–12th 7.1
8 400 students · 9th–12th 7.0
9 359 students · 9th–12th 6.9
10 237 students · 9th–12th 6.9
11 525 students · 9th–12th 6.8
12 502 students · 6th–12th 6.8
13 265 students · 9th–12th 6.8
14 557 students · 9th–12th 6.7
15 82 students · 9th–12th 6.7
16 302 students · 9th–12th 6.6
17 132 students · 9th–12th 6.5
18 1,525 students · 9th–12th 6.5
19 518 students · 6th–12th 6.4
20 241 students · 9th–12th 6.4
21 664 students · 6th–12th 6.2
22 406 students · 6th–12th 6.1
23 89 students · 9th–12th 6.1
24 368 students · 9th–12th 6.0
25 290 students · 9th–12th 5.9
Show 38 more high schools
26 98 students · 9th–12th 5.8
27 760 students · 6th–12th 5.7
28 285 students · 9th–12th 5.7
29 780 students · 6th–12th 5.3
30 698 students · 9th–12th 5.2
31 304 students · 9th–12th 5.1
32 1,186 students · 9th–12th 5.1
33 309 students · 6th–12th 5.0
34 694 students · 9th–12th 4.7
35 436 students · 6th–12th 4.4
36 621 students · 6th–12th 4.4
37 218 students · 9th–12th 4.4
38 780 students · 6th–12th 4.1
39 595 students · 6th–12th 3.8
40 223 students · 6th–12th 3.4
41 473 students · 6th–12th 3.1
42 560 students · 6th–12th 3.0
43 756 students · 6th–12th 2.5
Private Schools 20 schools

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1 142 students · 9th–12th Not Rated
2 373 students · 9th–12th Not Rated
3 1,248 students · 9th–12th Not Rated
4 272 students · 9th–12th Not Rated
5 6 students · 8th–12th Not Rated
6 71 students · Kindergarten–12th Not Rated
7 10 students · 2nd–12th Not Rated
8 334 students · 9th–12th Not Rated
9 7 students · Kindergarten–12th Not Rated
10 15 students · 6th–12th Not Rated
11 22 students · Kindergarten–12th Not Rated
12 1,259 students · 9th–12th Not Rated
13 902 students · Kindergarten–12th Not Rated
14 129 students · 9th–12th Not Rated
15 70 students · Kindergarten–12th Not Rated
16 13 students · Kindergarten–12th Not Rated
17 12 students · Kindergarten–12th Not Rated
18 19 students · Kindergarten–12th Not Rated
19 12 students · 6th–12th Not Rated
20 14 students · 8th–12th Not Rated

Other Schools

7 schools
# School Rating
1 573 students · Kindergarten–12th 7.5
2 739 students · Kindergarten–12th 6.4
3 9 students · Kindergarten–12th
Private Schools 4 schools

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1 108 students · Kindergarten–12th Not Rated
2 900 students · Kindergarten–12th Not Rated
3 44 students · 2nd–12th Not Rated
4 13 students · 1st–9th Not Rated

Schools in Oakland

Oakland, California · 208 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 15 ZIP codes

Median Income

$108,414

Median Home Value

$976,157

Median Rent

$2,029/mo

Population

459,490

College Educated

48%

Homeownership

42%

Avg Commute

31 min

Poverty Rate

16.3%

Community Profile

Oakland has a median household income of $108,414. It is a well-educated community where 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $976,157, with a median rent of $2,029/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.3%. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

Total Schools
208
Elementary
116
Middle
22
High
63
Districts
69
Avg Rating
6.1/10
School Districts (69)

Oakland Charter High District

1 school · 359 students

AIMS College Prep Middle District

1 school · 212 students

Downtown Charter Academy District

1 school · 259 students

Aspire Triumph Technology Academy District

1 school · 245 students

Latitude 37.8 High District

1 school · 350 students

Aspire Titan Academy District

1 school · 321 students

Aspire Richmond Technology Academy District

1 school · 567 students

Aspire Golden State College Preparatory Academy District

1 school · 436 students

Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy District

1 school · 519 students

Aspire Junior Collegiate Academy District

1 school · 322 students

Aspire Capitol Heights Academy District

1 school · 214 students

Aspire East Palo Alto Charter District

1 school · 564 students

Envision Academy for Arts & Technology District

1 school · 223 students

Alternatives in Action District

1 school · 132 students

Impact Academy of Arts & Technology District

1 school · 760 students

Aspire Pacific Academy District

1 school · 560 students

Community School for Creative Education District

1 school · 186 students

Aspire Alexander Twilight Secondary Academy District

1 school · 473 students

ASCEND District

1 school · 481 students

Cox Academy District

1 school · 464 students

North Oakland Community Charter District

1 school · 111 students

Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public District

1 school · 739 students

Aspire Langston Hughes Academy District

1 school · 756 students

Leadership Public Schools - Hayward District

1 school · 557 students

Urban Montessori Charter District

1 school · 349 students

Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy District

1 school · 393 students

Aspire Vanguard College Preparatory Academy District

1 school · 621 students

Bay Area Technology District

1 school · 309 students

Francophone Charter School of Oakland District

1 school · 331 students

John Henry High District

1 school · 285 students

American Indian Public Charter School II District

1 school · 628 students

Learning Without Limits District

1 school · 354 students

Leadership Public Schools: Richmond District

1 school · 525 students

Lighthouse Community Charter District

1 school · 554 students

LPS Oakland R & D Campus District

1 school · 218 students

Oakland Military Inst College Prep Acad DIST

1 school · 518 students

Yu Ming Charter District

1 school · 865 students

Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy District

1 school · 497 students

Aspire Rosa Parks Academy District

1 school · 398 students

Aspire Benjamin Holt Middle District

1 school · 572 students

Aspire Summit Charter Academy District

1 school · 386 students

Aspire College Academy District

1 school · 203 students

Aspire Alexander Twilight College Prep Acad DIST

1 school · 427 students

Achieve Academy District

1 school · 542 students

East Bay Innovation Academy District

1 school · 502 students

Aspire Slauson Academy Charter District

1 school · 311 students

Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy District

1 school · 406 students

AIMS College Prep High District

1 school · 368 students

Aspire Firestone Academy Charter District

1 school · 348 students

KIPP Bridge Academy District

1 school · 487 students

Oakland Unity High District

1 school · 304 students

Aspire Juanita Tate Academy Charter District

1 school · 332 students

Oakland Unity Middle District

1 school · 125 students

Lighthouse Community Charter High District

1 school · 302 students

Aspire APEX Academy District

1 school · 314 students

Aspire Benjamin Holt College Preparatory Academy District

1 school · 694 students

Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy District

1 school · 595 students

Lazear Charter Academy District

1 school · 479 students

Aspire Inskeep Academy Charter District

1 school · 322 students

Aspire Port City Academy District

1 school · 452 students

Aspire Monarch Academy District

1 school · 402 students

Aspire River Oaks Charter District

1 school · 451 students

Oakland School for the Arts District

1 school · 780 students

Aurum Preparatory Academy District

1 school · 122 students

ARISE High District

1 school · 400 students

Aspire Gateway Academy Charter District

1 school · 345 students

Aspire Vincent Shalvey Academy District

1 school · 448 students

KIPP Esperanza High District

1 school · 241 students

Oakland Unified

82 schools · 33,916 students

Featured Rankings

See our in-depth rankings with interactive maps, score breakdowns, and school spotlights.

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Oakland, California

How many schools are in Oakland, California?

Oakland has 208 schools, including 149 public and 59 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Oakland, California?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Oakland is 6.1 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Oakland, California?

The top-ranked school in Oakland on MySchoolScout is Downtown Charter Academy with a composite score of 9.3/10.

What is the best elementary school in Oakland, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in Oakland on MySchoolScout is Sequoia Elementary with a composite score of 9.1/10.

What is the best middle school in Oakland, California?

The top-ranked middle school in Oakland on MySchoolScout is Downtown Charter Academy with a composite score of 9.3/10.

What is the best high school in Oakland, California?

The top-ranked high school in Oakland on MySchoolScout is Oakland Technical High with a composite score of 8.7/10.

How many school districts serve Oakland, California?

Oakland is served by 69 school districts: Oakland Charter High District, Aims College Prep Middle District, Downtown Charter Academy District, Aspire Triumph Technology Academy District, Latitude 37.8 High District, Aspire Titan Academy District, Aspire Richmond Technology Academy District, Aspire Golden State College Preparatory Academy District, Aspire Centennial College Preparatory Academy District, Aspire Junior Collegiate Academy District, Aspire Capitol Heights Academy District, Aspire East Palo Alto Charter District, Envision Academy for Arts & Technology District, Alternatives in Action District, Impact Academy of Arts & Technology District, Aspire Pacific Academy District, Community School for Creative Education District, Aspire Alexander Twilight Secondary Academy District, Ascend District, Cox Academy District, North Oakland Community Charter District, Lodestar: a Lighthouse Community Charter Public District, Aspire Langston Hughes Academy District, Leadership Public Schools - Hayward District, Urban Montessori Charter District, Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy District, Aspire Vanguard College Preparatory Academy District, Bay Area Technology District, Francophone Charter School of Oakland District, John Henry High District, American Indian Public Charter School II District, Learning Without Limits District, Leadership Public Schools: Richmond District, Lighthouse Community Charter District, Lps Oakland R & D Campus District, Oakland Military Inst College Prep Acad Dist, Yu Ming Charter District, Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy District, Aspire Rosa Parks Academy District, Aspire Benjamin Holt Middle District, Aspire Summit Charter Academy District, Aspire College Academy District, Aspire Alexander Twilight College Prep Acad Dist, Achieve Academy District, East Bay Innovation Academy District, Aspire Slauson Academy Charter District, Aspire Lionel Wilson College Preparatory Academy District, Aims College Prep High District, Aspire Firestone Academy Charter District, Kipp Bridge Academy District, Oakland Unity High District, Aspire Juanita Tate Academy Charter District, Oakland Unity Middle District, Lighthouse Community Charter High District, Aspire Apex Academy District, Aspire Benjamin Holt College Preparatory Academy District, Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy District, Lazear Charter Academy District, Aspire Inskeep Academy Charter District, Aspire Port City Academy District, Aspire Monarch Academy District, Aspire River Oaks Charter District, Oakland School for the Arts District, Aurum Preparatory Academy District, Arise High District, Aspire Gateway Academy Charter District, Aspire Vincent Shalvey Academy District, Kipp Esperanza High District, Oakland Unified.

What is the education level in Oakland, California?

According to Census data, 48% of adults in Oakland have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Oakland, California?

The median household income in Oakland is approximately $108,414 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Oakland, California?

Yes, Oakland has 59 private schools alongside 149 public schools. The top-rated private school is The Renaissance International School with a score of 8.7/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Oakland, California?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Oakland is 18.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Oakland, California?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.